I can’t swing the $260 the shops around here want to powder coat my wheels black. I know a few people have painted their own H2 wheels. I was wondering if anyone can give me some suggestions for which brand or type of paint, and preparations needed to do this myself.
TIA
BC

 

Anybody got any tips?

 

Id just use a good enamel paint, maybe high temp engine enamel.(Kind of depends on how you want the finish, if you care if its not smooth like glass, or gloss/semi-gloss/flat, etc....

Just scuff it up real well with a scotch brite, every nook and cranny, and clean it well with rubbing alcohol before painting.
Another good way to prep it is to have them sandblasted, but again, thats more money out of pocket.(Unless a buddy has one you can borrow)


Ill probably end up painting mine when I get a set, just so I can touch them up after the tire guys get their crack at them, and rock chips, etc...

 

My parts stripper said no to sandblasting because the aluminum wheels will get torn up w/ this method. He is chemically stripping them instead. FWIW

 

Another option is to do what my powdercoater did...

Instead of environmentally unfriendly chemical stripping, they bake the wheels at 600°+ for a while so the original powder coat bubbles and flakes. Then they take the final bit off with some fine-grit aluminum oxide.

If you're looking to just prep the surface you could "etch" the existing powder with aluminum oxide. Just a light blast to roughen up the finish for the new paint to adhere to.

Trick is finding a buddy with a blast cabinet...

 

****- that quote seems high! the price must be higher out your way. i called around too- when i was looking to get mine powder coated. all the shops were in the 30-40 bucks per wheel range. got all four done for 120.00!!!!

 

So, minus the sandblasting, would stacked97 process work ok?

 

I just scuffed them a bit cleaned them up and sprayed them with duplicolor paint. http://duplicolor.com/products/wheel.html

Remember they are already painted and clear coated. You are just adding another layer of paint, or two, to the original prep work and paint.

If I recall correctly it was 4 cans of paint.

 

I would say you should use some prepsolv before you paint. I also used duplicolor.

 

06trx,
I like your wheels A LOT. I just don't think I have the patience to do that much taping. I'm just going to paint mine gloss black and then add some chrome hub caps.

 

I started to tape mine off like that as well, but didn't want to take the time either. I was also going for the all black look. I thought about painting them, let the paint set a bit, then carefully wipe it off with some thinner.

 

when I painted my factory wheels, I sandblasted them 1st- I don't really think it's absolutely necessary. You can probably rough up the clear coat as the others have advised. I used a light coat of self etching primer, followed by some semi gloss enamel.

 

I don't think I'd go for the baking method.

600 degrees is above some temps used for heat treating aluminum.

It seems like glass beading or a chemical etch and scuff would be better.


John

 

Thanks for the info in the self etching primer. I wasn't sure which primer to use.

I've got access to a sand blaster now, but now I'm not sure I want to use that based on the comment C minus made about it being too abrasive.